Popular mechanics’ senior home editor solves your most pressing problems.
Q. I bought some timber that has cup-shaped marks on its face. The guys behind the counter said it was all like that. What can I do about it?
A .There are two options for how timber emerges from a log and leaves the sawmill. It can be left as is, rough and damp, or processed to perfection; dry, smooth, flat, and straight. It sounds like you bought wood that is somewhere between the two.
The cup marks are caused by a rapid trip through a planer. To remove them, you’ll need to run the boards through a bench-top planer. If you don’t have one, they can be quite useful and save you money.
Begin by passing the timber through the machine so its knives barely contact the wood surface. By making several semiplaned areas, you’ll create a temporary flat reference face, giving you a continuous surface to run over the planer bed. Turn the board over and run the semi-planed surface against the planer bed, taking several light passes until the top of the board is smooth and straight. Flip the board again and use the newly straightened surface as the reference against the planer bed. Take a few more passes until both the top and bottom are smooth and straight.
Q. The inspection report on our new house says we have wood truss-roof construction. What’s that?
この記事は Popular Mechanics South Africa の April 2017 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です ? サインイン
この記事は Popular Mechanics South Africa の April 2017 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です? サインイン
Can a retired rocket engine take us to Mars?
The space shuttle's main engine was mothballed with the programme in 2011. Now NASA believes it's the future of interplanetary travel.
6 metre waves. All engines on fire. 1 500 Km from land.
How Flying Tiger 923 and its 'miracle pilot' made an impossible ocean landing.
Land Rover Discovery D300
A FEW MONTHS ago a $2 billion lottery jackpot was won in the United States. It’s fun to sometimes ponder outrageous winnings like that, and how I’d spend it, even if it’s completely detached from reality.
Volkswagen Taigo R-Line 1.0 TSI
The compact proportions make this a delightful daily commuter.
Mazda CX-5 2.2 L De Akera AWD
Floor the pedal and overtaking is achieved easily and safely.
Making the most out of your grinder
THE HUMBLE BENCH GRINDER IS A STAPLE of the handyworker's home shop, largely due to its versatility. But, while you can employ one to remove metal from just about anything, the traditional kind may not provide the precision you need for every grinding operation. Here, we shed light on the best ways to use the different types of grinders, gleaned from our testing.
Unlock your devices' full potential with a USB-C hub
AS NEW TECH SHRINKS EACH YEAR, essential ports such as USB-A, HDMI, and ethernet are being replaced by the slimmer USB-C.
WE BUILT THE WORLD'S FIRST V-8 TESLA
THE RICH REBUILDS TEAM HAD A DEAD MODEL S. THEY FIXED IT WITH A CAMARO ENGINE.
I bought a GHOST TOWN
This abandoned California mining village once had 400 buildings. Now I'm restoring the 20 that remain.
F1 taught me that speed starts with comfort
AS A FAN OF MOTORSPORT, I'M ALWAYS fascinated with the finer details that go into Formula One racing. Piloting the fastest racing cars on the planet subjects drivers to savage forces - up to 6 G's under braking which has led to an almost endless pursuit of comfort.
